Chapter 1
  • propension – archaic for propensity – inclination
  • gout – inflammatory disease of the joints
  • expostulated – remonstrated; reasoned earnestly with someone against something that he/she really wants to do
  • viz. – This is used often throughout the novel. It is a contraction for the French adverb videlicet, which means that is or namely It is used to introduce examples or lists.
  • felicity – bliss; extreme happiness
  • vicissitudes – changing conditions
  • importunities – pressing demands

Chapter 2
  • elopement – a departure without telling anyone
  • a true repenting prodigal” – a returning, sorry, child (references the “prodigal son” from the Bible
  • inured to it” – became used to it
  • Providence – God; divine care
  • rid forecastle in – The forecastle is the area in the front (bow) of the boat where the crew would be housed. This means they rode in that structure,
  • sheet anchor – large anchor used in an emergency
  • steerage – cheapest passenger accommodation on a ship
  • deep loaden – loaded down
  • mate – ship officer (varying rank)
  • boatswain – ship’s officer in charge of riggings, anchors, etc.
  • swoon – a faint
  • staved against shore - smashed

Chapter 3

  • obstinacy– stubbornness
  • “Jonah in the ship of Tarshish” – a Biblical reference of Jonah fleeing to Tarshish
  • athwart – crosswise; from side to side
  • “prophetic discourse” – referring to Crusoe’s father’s talk that foretold his misery

Chapter 4

  • pinnace - a smaller sailing ship that is stored on a larger ship
  • boom jibed – The boom is the horizontal bar attached to a sail, and to jibe is to move across the ship in a sweeping fashion
  • league – about 3 miles
  • fusees – flares
  • ancient and pendants – flags
  • notions of deliverance – ideas of being freed
  • contrivance – a deceitful plan
  • rusk – a dry biscuit (cookie, sort of)

Chapter 5

  • subsistence- state of existing
  • procuring- to obtain or get by care, effort, or the use of special means
  • remitted- to transmit or send
  • remedy- something that cures or relieves a disease or bodily disorder
  • obstinate- firmly or stubbornly adhering to one's opinion

Chapter 6


  • covenant – a promise or agreement between two people not to do a certain thing
  • scud(ding) – to run towards a gale with little or no sail set
  • rudder – a blade at the back of a ship spun to change direction

Chapter 7

Malefactor- a bad person



Chapter 8


  • Dismal- gloomy
  • expostulate- remonstrate
  • pensive- wistfully thoughtful
  • husbanded- conserved
  • despondency- discouragement



Chapter 9

-forbear- to keep back or refrain
-contrivance- work

Chapter 10
Astonishment- very surprised
Prodigy- young person or thing
Fancy (ied)- would like
Seldom- rarely

Chapter 11
Disconsolate- Deeply dejected
Asunder- To separate into different parts

Chapter 12

  • Ague- a malarial fever
  • Repentance- regret for past actions
  • Profane- irreligious
  • Construe- to interpret

Chapter 13
Ague- A kind of illness
Bower- A leafy shelter
Convulsion- An uncontrollable fit
Aloes- African plants
Render- To cause be or become
Enamored- To inspire with love


Chapter 15
requisite............. required or needed for the purpose

Chapter 17
periaqua- a dug out canoe
terra firma- a solid earth
mast- a big post on a sail boat
victualed- supplying food
eddy- a circular current


Chapter 18

  • wickerware – baskets or anything of the like
  • flay - to strip off the skin
  • e'en - even
  • herbage - non-wood-ish vegetation
  • ebb - the flowing back of the tide
  • periangua – a canoe
  • squab - a couch

Chapter 20
  • Innumerable- uncountable; endless
  • Circumscribed- enclosed in borders
  • Indignation- something unjust
  • Cogitations- deep thought; earnest meditation
  • Repent- a feeling of sorrow for a sin

Chapter 21
vitiated-to spoil, lessen the quality of.
abhorrence-utter loathing, really hating.


Chapter 22
eddy
a current where the main stream is in liquid, especially having a whirlwind motion
naturalists
people who study natural history
perceive
to recognize
ebbed
to fall back from the flood stage
gridiron
a utensil with parallel metal bars used for cooking
succades
fruit cooked in sugar syrup and encrusted with sugar crystals

Chapter 23
  • Memento – Anything serving as a reminder or warning
  • Subsequent – Occurring or coming later or after
  • Moidores – Former Portuguese or Brazilian gold coin also used in England in early 18th century
  • Supercargo – A merchant-ship officer in charge of cargo and commercial concerns of voyage
  • Thoroughfare – A road or street that leads into another street at each end
  • Abridgment – A shortened form of a book, speech, etc. that still has the basic contents
  • Impetuosity – Being able to move with great force
  • Ferment – Agitation, unrest, excitement, commotion, tumult
  • Scrupled – Hesitated
  • Lawfulness – Allowing or permitting by law
  • Musing – Absorbed in thought, meditative
  • Hallooing – Catching someone's attention
  • Necessitated – Made necessary or unavoidable

Chapter 26
Thither-Farther away to an extent of the man speaking or the man being spoken about.


Perceive-To understand or become aware of someone or something


Dexterous-Skillful with the body or hands


Bungling-Showing lack of skill or aptitude on something


Contrivances-Schemes thought up with ingenuity

Chapter 27

errand- a short quick trip to accomplish a specific purpose
bewitched-to captivate completely
inquiry- a seeking or request for information